"When I was an investment banker", 'nuff said. Undervalued, underloved? Not buying it. Not even going bother to reiterate what Archman Investor has pointed out countless times. Sadly, he will suffer the fate of Cassandra, as most people love the safety of crowds and are demure when it comes to taking real responsibility for their own actions.

Apple (AAPL) says it has already sold out the supply of new iPads set aside for pre-order, and will push back their ship date to Friday, which is the official launch date. Apple had previously told customers they would receive their pre-ordered iPads the same day the tablet goes on sale in stores. [View news story]

Hey! I resent that statement! This is directed to Mr.Minnesota Steve and partially to Archman for saying that NO ONE on SA is on food stamps. That's not true, I constantly tout the fact that I'm on food stamps. Who says you can't have a 6 figure trading acct. and still be sucking on the government udders? It's hilarious! But I agree, our country is looking like the doldrums now. I might just take my municipal and corporate welfare and just move to Thailand.

Not only is further stimulus off the table, but the Fed is likely to emerge from next week's policy meeting with a slightly more upbeat view of the economy, reports Jon Hilsenrath. The fast decline in unemployment has taken Fed officials by surprise, and it could mean more underlying strength in the economy than other data would indicate. [View news story]

I agree with Archman, although I'm a bit more optimistic, despite the fact that I believe you need not 1m to retire on, but 10m; provided that you don't want to work in your 40's.

You say 10% of the American (U.S.) population control the other 90%? Isn't that number a bit less? Because I doubt 10% of the people in this country are decamillionaires, which is what I consider to be "rich" or upper middle class.

I feel safer in a mix of VNQ/IFGL/MORT (my core holdings for RE). I just don't have the time, money, nor expertise to physically manage and rent out buildings; that and I'm skeptical as the cheapest RE (and one's affordable to me) is in North Las Vegas (I live in the Southwest side). I just don't want to deal with the general population that lives in that area, no offense; I like my payments on time.

However, this runs contrary to what my customers tell me: own physical, paper is just paper, it'll all be worth $0 in the long run (Prechter, anyone?).

Regardless, that's my own two cents, and great article. Deserving of editor's pick. This is a discussion I've always wanted to see pan out amongst the brighter, and more experienced on SA. Enlighten me.

After a "tiny" dividend cut (the 2nd in a row) and a small drop in price, the bears are again locked and loaded against mREIT leader Annaly (NLY). Take advantage and buy, writes Regarded Solutions. The dividend remains at 14.2%, the shares trade below book value, and the biggest threat - higher short rates - is off the table through 2013. [View news story]

No, I hear you. I've owned this for years, through the ups and downs, and it has treated me very well.

Investing in dividends is the only thing that has worked for me so far; emphasis on for me. My cap. gains was near flat after expenses in 2011, but my income from dividends/distributions came out to be 6.86% after taxes (which is my average portfolio yield).

I'm a 23 yr. old late comer (imo) to investing, and currently get a monthly income stream of $120-130, short of my $136 in EBT (food stamps).

I agree w/ what another user said above, the beginning of income investing is always a downer; for me esp., since I have a thing of keeping a 50% allocation of cash in my account.

Keep writing, I enjoy reading all your articles, oh, and shout out to Chowder! He's awesome.

If anyone is considering REM for mReit exposure, consider MORT; less liquid, but more concentrated in that sector. I believe REM also has exposure to banks who underwrite mortgage loans, like NYB and/or HCBK.

That being said, I'm long NLY and AGNC, best in the business (thought about ANH, but it broke out already)